Myocardial infarction association with the Riley-Day syndrome.

The "sudden death" of a 23-year-old Ashkenazy Jew, suffering from "familial dysautonomia" was probably caused by an arrhythmia accompanying a myocardial infarction. Such a report is unique. Diffuse coronary atherosclerosis and direct myocardial "catecholamine cardiomyopathy" seem responsible for the myocardial damage. However, diversion of the endocardial blood flow toward dpicardium and a "coronary steal" phenomenon, both the result of a sudden catecholamine discharge, could aggravate the ischemic injury.